𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: 𝗔𝗣𝗖 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟯, 𝗚𝗼𝘃 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟭

The All Progressives Congress has announced a major revision to its 2027 primary election timetable, moving the date for the selection of its presidential candidate to May 23, 2026.

Governorship primaries will now hold three days earlier, on May 21, while other legislative primaries have also been rescheduled under the new calendar.

The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Duro Meseko, revealed the changes on Thursday at the conclusion of the 186th National Working Committee meeting in Abuja.

According to the revised schedule, the presidential primary originally slated for May 15 and 16 has been pushed back by over a week. The governorship primary, previously fixed for an earlier date, will now take place on May 21.

Meseko explained that the adjustments were made to align with the Constitution, the newly amended Electoral Act of 2026, and the Independent National Electoral Commission’s revised timetable for the general elections.

Under the new arrangement, the sale of nomination forms will begin this Saturday, April 25, and run until May 2. Aspirants have until May 4 to submit completed forms and accompanying documents.

Screening of aspirants for various offices will take place between May 6 and May 9. Presidential aspirants will face the screening panel on May 9, while governorship, senate, and house of representatives candidates will be screened from May 6 to May 8.

Primary elections for the House of Representatives will kick off the party’s primary season on May 15, followed by Senate primaries on May 18, and State House of Assembly primaries on May 20.

The governorship primary will follow on May 21, with the presidential primary capping the process on May 23.

Meseko also confirmed that the party has adopted two modes of selecting candidates as permitted by the Electoral Act: direct primaries and consensus. He stressed that aspirants are free to choose their preferred option.

“Where consensus works, it stands, and where an aspirant does not agree to consensus, it automatically reverts to direct primaries,” he stated.

The deputy spokesperson dismissed rumours that nomination forms would be restricted to certain individuals, declaring that forms are available to all party faithful seeking elective offices.

INEC has fixed the presidential and National Assembly elections for Saturday, January 16, 2027, while governorship and state assembly polls will hold on February 6, 2027.

The electoral body has mandated that all party primaries, including the resolution of disputes arising from them, be completed between April 23 and May 30, 2026.

More details to follow…